Uganda and Rwanda

On this trip you will experience two of Africa's most exciting countries; Uganda and Rwanda. Rolling hills, high mountains, amazing rain forests, gorillas, chimpanzees and tree-climbing lions are some of the highlights. This trip includes;

12 days with a private jeep and guide

Visit gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Fores

See the chimpanzees in the Kibale Forest National Park

Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park with tree-climbing lions and over 600 bird species

Visit the Diane Fossey's grave in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Visit to the Genocide Memorial Centre in Kigali

Flight UK- Entebbe and Kigali - UK including flight taxes

You will travel through rolling hills terraced slopes and high mountains with dense rainforest. In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you will face the Mountain Gorillas. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will have the chance to see many of Africa's large mammals including lions and birdwatchers can scout for more than 600 different species of birds recorded here. In Kibale Forest you'll encounter mans closest relative; chimpanzees. In Rwanda you will stay in the foothills of the mighty volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains, visiting Diane Fossey's grave and also discovering East Africa's most modern city; Kigali.

Please note, there is a minimum age of 15 years for visiting the mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda

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Itinerary

Note that the exact flight times differ depending on your departure city and flight. You arrive in Uganda on Day 1. If you are flying overnight and land during the day in Uganda, then your departure from your home destination take place on day 0.

Day 1: Arrive in UgandaYou arrive at Entebbe International Airport just outside Uganda's capital city Kampala. In Entebbe, you will be greeted by our local partners who will drive you to your accommodation at Cassia Lodge in Kampala. The afternoon and evening are spent as your pleased. No meals are included on this day.

Day 2: Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park (6 hour drive)After breakfast at the hotel you will start the journey to Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest is a large protected rainforest, which has the highest number of primates in Africa, such as chimpanzees, Red Colobus and Red Tailed Monkey. Your first stop will be in the town of Fort Portal near Kibale Forest, located at the foot of the Rwenzori mountains. Here you will get an amazing view of the mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon. After lunch in Fort Portal, you'll proceed to your accommodation at the Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse. The car journey takes around 6 hours. After arrival, you'll have a few hours alone where you can relax at the hotel or go for a walk in the surroundings. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Beverage is not included.

Day 3: Kibale Forest National Park - chimpanzeesThis morning you will track Chimpanzees in the forest. To see how the chimpanzees, climes trees, reacts to people and care for their young ones is a wonderful experience. You'll spend the whole morning in the forest and return to the lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon you can relax or take a walk around the villages and crater lakes. Accommodation at Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Beverage are not included.

Day 4: Kibale Forest to Queen Elizabeth National Park (2-3 hours drive)After breakfast, you will leave Kibale and drive towards Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). Upon arrival at the park you'll have a short game drive on the way to your lodge. Lunch at the lodge and then a quick siesta before the afternoon game drive. QENP is known for having one of the richest animal lives in the world. With a biosphere that range from savanna to rain forest to wetlands is the perfect habitat for a huge variety of wildlife including one of East Africa's richest bird life. The park contains nearly 100 species of mammals (including lion, hippo, buffalo, leopard, spotted hyena and elephant) and no less than 606 species of birds! Accommodation at Bush Lodge. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Beverage is not included.

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National ParkThis day you will have an early breakfast so you can leave in time for a morning game drive in the Kazinga area. Here you'll hopefully get to see lions and other large mammals. Lunch will be served at your lodge and in the afternoon, you will take a boat tour on the Kazinga channel. This is a great way to see hippos, crocodiles, buffalos, elephants and a variety of other large animals that come to quench their thirst. There is also an incredible variety of birds. After the boat trip, you drive back to your lodge. Accommodation at Bush Lodge. Breakfast, lunch and are dinner included. Beverage is not included.

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi (4 hour drive)After breakfast you'll drive to the Ishasha area of QENP where you'll spend the morning with safari in search of the famous tree-climbing lion. After the picnic lunch it's time for the drive to Bwindi. You'll reach Bwindi in the late afternoon after about 4 hours drive. Upon arrival you will check in to your accommodation at Mahogany Springs. Breakfast, lunch and are dinner included. Beverage is not included.

Day 7: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National ParkThis day you will rise early, exactly when you get up depends on your starting point for the gorilla tracking. Some groups start their trek very close of the lodge while some start in another part of Bwindi and that requires a car journey for up to an hour to get to your starting point. It's important that you are properly dressed and that you remember to bring your picnic lunch. The walk through the forest, which is mostly known for its gorillas but also home to a variety of birds, are pretty tough and it can take a few hours to find the gorillas. In the afternoon you will return to your lodge and can spend a few hours just to relax or perhaps take a walk on your own in the beautiful surroundings, before dinner. Accommodation at Mahogany Springs. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Beverage is not included.

Day 8: Bwindi to Ruhengeri (Rwanda)After breakfast at the hotel you'll head south towards Rwanda. Driving to the border takes just under three hours. After you have gone through the border control, your guide will pick you up on the Rwandan side Then awaits a short drive to Ruhengeri and your accommodation at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. The rest of the day is free to spend as you please. You stop for lunch at a restaurant along the way that day. Accommodation at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Beverage are not included.

Day 9: RuhengeriThe morning will bring you on a trip to Diane Fossey's grave. Diane Fossey spent most of her life in the rain forest in the Virunga Mountains working to protect the gorillas. Her life has become world famous with the movie and book "Gorillas in the Mist". After the visit you will head back to the hotel for lunch and the afternoon is free to spend as you please. There are plenty of cultural tours in Ruhengeri that your guide would happily arrange. Accommodation at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Beverage is not included.

Alternatively, spend the day visiting the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. This would have to be booked in advance and a cost of $750/person is then added.

Day 10: Ruhengeri to KigaliAfter breakfast you'll drive to Kigali. Afternoon is free to spend as you please. Accommodation at The Manor Hotel. Breakfast is included.

Day 11: KigaliAfter breakfast you will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial which is a beautiful and dignified memorial / museum of the horrific genocide in Rwanda which lasted for 100 days in 1994. Afterwards you will visit the nearby craft market. Lunch-time and the remaining part of the day is free to spend as you please in Kigali. Accommodation at The Manor Hotel. Breakfast is included.

Day 12: Return2.5 hours before your flight departure, you will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to Kigali Airport.

Day 13: Arrival in UK

Dates and prices

Daily Departures all year round. Rates shown are for private group, meaning that you never share your Jeep with another traveler. This applies if you are a group of 2-6 people. For groups larger than six people another jeep will be necessary, contact us for pricing.

Prices above are quoted per adult (> 15 years old) sharing a double room. Discounts for children and youth applies.

Declaration of interest

The declaration of interesestis of coures free of charge andnon binding.

Hotels & Lodges

Cassia LodgePleasant and popular middle class hotel located on a high hill with stunning views of Kampala and Lake Victoria. Learn more about Cassia Lodge.

Chimpanzee Forest Guest HouseNice and well kept small hotel just outside Kibale Forest National Park. Located in an area of green hills and beautiful crater lakes. We recommend a walk in the surroundings on your own. Learn more about the Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse.

Bush LodgeSmall tented camp right next to the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth's animal richest area. With only ten tents, this lodge offers the genuine safari feeling. Learn more about Bush Lodge.

Mahogany Springs LodgeA lodge of really good class built on a slope overlooking the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The lodge has large, nice rooms located in separate bungalows spread out over the grounds. Learn more about Mahogany Springs Lodge.

Mountain Gorilla View LodgeFairly new lodge of great class. The lodge has 30 rooms which are all located in small cottages on the slopes to Mt. Sabinyo. Each room has private toilet and shower, a small lounge section with open fireplace and a private veranda. The lodge also has a restaurant, bar and reception in a separate building. Learn more Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

The Manor Hotel, KigaliModern and good hotel of international standards in Kigali. The hotel has large, clean rooms, all with private toilet and shower, restaurant, bar, gym and pool. Learn more about The Manor Hotel here.

Prior to your trip

Before your departure you might want to go through our checklist below to make sure you have everything you need.

Visa, If you choose to apply for your visa before your departure it should be done through their respective embassy. We recommend that you apply at lest a month in advance. There is also the possibility to buy your visa upon arrival. Make sure you have the correct amount (in USD) easily accessible in your hand luggage.

Visa to Uganda, you can apply through the Uganda High Commission in London, alternatively buy on arrival at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Visas to Uganda requires that you fill in the form which can be downloaded from the High Commission website and send the form, passport (valid for at least six months from the proposed date of entry) and 1 passport photos to the embassy in a stamped, self addressed and registered envelope. Visa to Uganda currently cost £35 when applying through the High Commission and USD 50 upon arrival in Uganda. We recommend that you contact the High Commission for details.

Citizens from Untited Kingdom do not need a visa to Rwanda

Vaccinations, Visits you vaccination clinic well in advance to receive the vaccinations and any medications you might need. Bring your proof of vaccination to your destination.

Travel Currency, It's best to have USD in cash. Visa cards are also good, Mastercards are accepted fairly often but Amex and Diners club are rarely accepted. Note that in many places in East Africa there is a fee up to 5% on card transactions.

Ticket; Usually you will receive an e-ticket on your email. Print your ticket and bring it to the airport for check-in. Make sure to check your flight ticket before your journey. You can do this by using your surname and booking reference to log in to checkmytrip.com. (This does not apply for group bookings) If you cant access you booking for any reason feel free to contact us and we will assist you.

Luggage: If your going on safari, please use soft sided luggage. Hard suitcases will be difficult to fit into your safari jeep.

Baggage Allowance; This varies between the different airline. Check with each airline website for their current conditions. Most domestic flights in East Africa only allow one bag with a limit of 20kg/person. Smaller safari planes often only allow 15kg/person including hand luggage.

Insurance; Before you travel make sure have an adequate travel insurance. Note that with several debit/ credit cards you travel insurance is included if you pay your trip with card. Check the conditions for your home insurance and card carefully before purchasing additional travel insurance. Africana Travel do not sell any travel insurance or cancelation insurance.

Flight check in: You can either check-in at the airport or the airlines website. Most airlines offers online check in 48h before departure. Note that not all airlines offer online check-in, therefor please look at your airline website prior to your journey. We can't check-in for you or book you a specific seats with extra legroom. Some airlines allows you to reserve specific seats with extra legroom on their website for an additional fee. This can be paid online by credit or debit card.

Terms of Purchasing; Trips booked with us are covered by general and special conditions. When purchasing a trip from Africana Travel your automatically accept these. Therefore, check our terms and conditions carefully.

FAQ

We have collected our frequently asked questions here.

Climate and weather

UgandaThe majority of Uganda experience a tropical climate with two main dry and rain seasons. Dry periods are December to February and June to August. To some degree this varies regionally across the country with a drier climate in the northern and eastern parts. As the country is located near the equator, it is warm all year round but the temperatures regulates since large parts of the country is on fairly high altitude. Read more about the climate and weather in Uganda in our Safari Guide Uganda.

RwandaRwanda has a tropical humid climate that in most parts of the country is moderated by fairly high altitude. Temperatures vary little throughout the year and different parts of the country. Ruhengeri and the Volcanoes National Park is quite high and has an noticeably cooler climate than, say, Kigali. The driest periods are from June to August and December to February. Normally, March -May are the wettest months but in recent years the variations have been great. Rain occurs in all seasons. Read more about the climate and weather in Rwanda in our Safari guide Rwanda.

Reservation

Changes in the exchange rate GBP/USD, availability of tickets, changes in taxes and fees on airline tickets and other external factors beyond our control could cause a higher price than those presented on this page.